One killed as blaze hits ship at Sharjah port

SHARJAH, May 13, 2017

At least one person was killed in a fire that broke out on a ship carrying petroleum products docked at a port in Sharjah, UAE, on Saturday, said a report.

Four people have been injured in the fire that was brought under control by the Sharjah Civil Defence personnel by the afternoon with the help of the Coast Guards, and the management of Al Hamriyah Port, according to a statement issued by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau.

They safely evacuated 16 workers from the ship and also controlled the diesel from spilling into the sea and preventing any further pollution, it stated.

The cause of the fire, which broke out early morning on the ship bearing a Panama flag, remained unknown, said senior Sharjah Civil Defence personnel.

The efforts of the Sharjah Civil Defence personnel, the Coast Guards, and the management of Al Hamriyah Port were united in successfully controlling the fire, said Colonel Sami Al Naqbi, the director-general of Sharjah Civil Defence.

The firefighters, skillfully and professionally contained the fire within 40 minutes, he stated.

Col Al Naqbi also lauded the efforts of civil defences of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain who joined their Sharjah counterparts in controlling the fire.

The injured workers have been transferred to a hospital, where they were reported to be stable, he added.-TradeArabia News Service